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DISSERTATION ON THE GIPSEYS:
DISSERTATION ON THE GIPSEYS:
REPRESENTING THEIR MANNER OF LIFE , FAMILY ECONOMY , OCCUPATIONS & TRADES , MARRIAGES & EDUCATION , SICKNESS , DEATH , & BURIAL , RELIGION , LANGUAGE , SCIENCES & ARTS , &c. &c. &c. WITH AN HISTORICAL ENQUIRY CONCERNING THEIR ORIGIN & FIRST APPEARANCE IN EUROPE . FROM THE GERMAN OF H. M. G. GRELLMANN. LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM BALLINTINE, Duke-street , Adelphi , Strand : SOLD BY EFFINGHAM WILSON, OPPOSITE THE CHAPTER COFFEE-HOUSE,
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ADVERTISEMENT.
ADVERTISEMENT.
The following Dissertation has already appeared in an English dress, having been, some years since, translated by the late M. Raper, Esq. F.R.S. and A.S. for the purpose, as he states in his preface, of affording “such of his countrymen as were unacquainted with the German language an opportunity of learning from what part of the world it is probable the Gipseys came among us.” The original work, and Mr. Raper’s translation, are burthened with many notes—Greek, Latin, French, German, English—sh
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INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
The Gipseys are a singular phenomenon in Europe; whether we contemplate their habitations, attend at their meals, or merely look in their faces, they always appear particular, and we are each moment struck with something new and extraordinary. What appears most worthy of remark is, that neither time, climate, nor example, has, in general, hitherto, made any alteration. For the space of between three and four hundred years, they have gone wandering about, like pilgrims and strangers: they are fo
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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
Various Appellations of these People . It is not uncommon for the same people to be called by different names, in different nations; such is the case with the Gipseys. The French received their first accounts of them from Bohemia; which occasioned their giving them the name of Bohemians ( Bohémiens ); the Dutch, supposing they came from Egypt, called them Heathens ( Heydens ). In Denmark, Sweden, and some parts of Germany, Tartars were thought of: the Moors and Arabians, perceiving the propens
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
On the Dispersion of the Gipseys , and their Numbers in Europe . The numerous hordes of Gipseys, widely dispersed over the face of the earth, are incredible. They wander about in Asia; in the interior part of Africa, they plunder the merchants of Agades; [3] and, like locusts, have overrun most of the countries of Europe. America seems to be the only part of the world where they are not known; no mention appearing to be made of them by authors who have written on that quarter of the globe. It
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
The Properties of their Bodies . Had the Gipseys made but a temporary appearance, and we could only be acquainted with them from the publications of former centuries, it would be difficult to entertain any other idea than that they were a herd of monsters and beelzebubs. We find in those books frequent mention of a savage people , black horrid men . But now that they have continued to our time, and we have an opportunity of seeing, with our own eyes, how they are formed, and what appearance th
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
On their Food and Beverage . Those Gipseys who are more connected with civilised people are not remarkable in their diet; though it is to be observed of them, that they are by no means particular in their cookery. The others, on the contrary, have their table furnished in a very irregular and extraordinary way. Sometimes they fast, or at best have only bread and water to subsist upon: at other times they regale on fowls and geese. The greatest luxury to them is, when they can procure a roast
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CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V.
On the Dress of the Gipseys . It cannot be expected that the description of the dress of a set of people whose whole economy belongs to the class of beggars, should exhibit any thing but poverty and want. The first of them that came to Europe appeared ragged and miserable—unless we perhaps allow their leaders to have been an exception;—in like manner their descendants have continued for hundreds of years, and still remain. This is particularly remarkable in the countries about the mouth of the
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CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VI.
On the Family Economy of the Gipseys . That these people are still the rude unpolished creatures that nature formed them, or, at most, have only advanced one degree towards humanity, is evinced, with other circumstances, by their family economy. Many of the Gipseys are stationary, having regular habitations, according to their situation in life. To this class belong those who keep public-houses in Spain; and others in Transylvania and Hungary, who follow some regular business; which latter have
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CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
Their Occupations and Trades . On considering the means to which the Gipseys have recourse to maintain themselves, we shall perceive the reason why poverty and want are so generally their lot; namely, their excessive indolence, and aversion from industry. They abhor every kind of employment which is laborious or requires application; and had rather suffer even hunger and nakedness, than obviate these privations on such hard terms. They therefore either choose some profession which requires lit
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CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VIII.
On their Marriages and Education . There are not, perhaps, any other people among whom marriages are contracted with so little consideration, or solemnised with so little ceremony, as among the Gipseys. No sooner has a boy attained the age of fourteen or fifteen years, than he begins to perceive that something more than mere eating and drinking is necessary to him. Having no fear of consequences, nor being under any restraint from his parents, he forms a connection with the girl he most fancie
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CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER IX.
On their Sickness , Death , and Burial . We have before had occasion to mention the constant good health of these people; and it is fact, that they do enjoy it more uninterruptedly, and perfectly, than persons of the most regular habits, and who pay the greatest attention to themselves. They get no cold nor defluxions, from the inclemency of the air. They are not subject to rashes; even poisons, or epidemical disorders, have no effect upon them. Any prevailing sickness penetrates sooner into
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CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER X.
Political Regulations peculiar to the Gipseys . When the Gipseys first arrived in Europe, they had leaders and chiefs, to conduct the various tribes in their migrations. This was necessary, not only to facilitate their progress through different countries and quarters of the globe, but to unite their force if necessary, and thereby enable them to make a more formidable resistance when opposed: and likewise to carry any plan, they might have formed, more readily into execution. We accordingly f
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CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XI.
On the Religion of the Gipseys . These people did not bring any particular religion with them from their native country, by which, as the Jews, they could be distinguished among other persons; but regulate themselves, in religious matters, according to the country where they live. Being very inconstant in their choice of residence, they are likewise so in respect to religion. No Gipsey has an idea of submission to any fixed profession of faith: it is as easy for him to change his religion at e
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CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XII.
Their Language , Sciences , and Arts . Besides that the Gipseys understand and speak the language of the country where they live, they have a general language of their own, in which they always converse with each other. Writers differ in opinion concerning this language, being undecided whether it be really that of any country, and who are the people from whom it originates. Some pronounce it a mere jargon, others say it is gibberish. We can by no means agree with the supporters of the first
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CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIII.
Character and Capacities of the Gipseys ; whether they are an Advantage or a Detriment to States . Imagine a people of childish thoughts, whose minds are filled with raw indigested conceptions, guided more by sense than reason, and using understanding and reflection only so far as they promote the gratification of any particular appetite;—and you have a perfect sketch of the general character of the Gipseys. They are lively; uncommonly loquacious; fickle to an extreme, consequently inconstant in
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CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV.
Concerning the Toleration of the Gipseys by the different States of Europe . From the inherent bad and pernicious qualities of the Gipseys, the question arises, What a government can do with them? The evil they occasion has long been a subject of serious consideration, and various means of security have been devised. As banishment was a mode punishing formerly often resorted to, nothing could be more natural than that it should likewise be exercised against the Gipseys. The clergy and politic
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CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XV.
Essay on the Improvement of the Gipseys . It would be a lamentable case, if the before-mentioned regulations were merely pious wishes. Let us hope something better! The work has been commenced;—a great empress, Theresa, laid down a plan to win over these poor unfortunate people to virtue and the state. But it is to be regretted, that the execution of her wise dispositions, respecting the Gipseys in Hungary, seems to have been entrusted to people inadequate to the task. What was done, in her t
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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
The first Appearance of Gipseys in Europe . No record is to be found, stating in what year, or in what part of Europe, Gipseys made their first appearance. But it is to be premised, what will afterwards be investigated, that they did not originate in our quarter of the globe; on the contrary, that they strayed hither, as oriental strangers, either from Egypt, Asia Minor, or some other part: we shall then examine, whether it be not possible, by means of what is related in old writings concerning
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
On the Sanctity , Passports , and Difference , of the former from the latter Gipseys . At the first arrival of the Gipseys in Europe, it was generally believed that they were Egyptians and pilgrims, constrained to wander on account of religion. This mistake originated from their own relation; but when required to give a more circumstantial detail of the reasons for their pilgrimage, they varied very much from each other. Some of them declared that they were compelled to make this emigration as
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
Presumed Origin of the Gipseys . It would be equally useless, prolix, and revolting, to reconsider the multitude of conjectures which the questions—“What race of people are the Gipseys?” and—“Where are we to look for their true mother country?” have occasioned. The greatest part of them are of such a nature, that they need only be heard to be totally rejected. We shall nevertheless produce some examples, as an excuse for passing over the rest in silence. Various conjectures have been formed, a
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
On the Egyptian Descent of the Gipseys . The belief that Gipseys are of Egyptian origin, is parallel with the existence of these people in Europe. It arose from the report circulated by the first of them who arrived here that they were pilgrims from Egypt; and this statement has not only been universally adopted by the common people, but has also, here and there, obtained credit among men of learning. Had this opinion not been received at a time when every thing was taken upon trust without ex
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CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V.
The Gipseys come from Hindostan . It is justly asserted, that one of the most infallible methods of determining the origin of these people with certainty, would be the discovery of a country where their language was in common use. The first and most necessary examination here, therefore, will be, to find out the part of the globe in which the Gipseys’ language is that of the natives: and this country is no other than Hindostan. But before we endeavour to prove this assertion, by a comparison o
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CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VI.
The Gipseys are of the Caste called Suders . We come now to the position we hoped to substantiate, viz. that the Gipseys are of the lowest class of Indians, namely, Parias ; or, as they are called in Hindostan, Suders . The whole great nation of Indians is known to be divided into four ranks or stocks, which are called by a Portuguese name, castes, each of which has its own particular subdivisions. Of these castes, the Bramin is the first: the second contains the Tschechteries or Setreas : the
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(A)
(A)
How much the Gipsey language has altered by time, may be seen, in a striking manner, from the following translations of the Lord’s Prayer, obtained from Hungarian Gipseys at different periods. 1. Lord’s Prayer, according to the old translation. Dade! gula dela dicha mengi, Czaoreng hogodoleden tavel, ogoledêl hogoladhem, te a felpesz, trogolo anao Czarchode, ta vela mengi sztre kedapu, maro mandro kata agjesz igiertiszara a more beszecha, male dsame, andro vo lyata, enkala megula, dela enchala
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